By: Kristen Meinert
Before the Attack:
Japan and the United States had known that war might have become a possibility since the 1920's. Each nation had developed contingency plans if it ever came to that. Tension did not begin to grow serious until Japan's 1931 invasion of Manchuria. Preliminary planning for an attack on Pearl Harbor had begun very early in 1941. These plans were under the direction of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, who was then commanding Japan's Combined Fleet. He began full-scale planning by early spring of 1941. Over the next several months, pilots trained, equipment was adapted, and intelligence gathered. Despite these preparations, the actual approval of the attack plan was not issued by Emperor Shōwa until 5 November, after the third of four Imperial Conferences which considered the matter. Final permission to attack was not given by him until December 1. Hostilities U.S. and Japan were expected by many observers, including President Roosevelt, who read a decrypted Japanese message and told his assistant Harry Hopkins, "This means war."
During the Attack:
On December 7, 1941 the USA was attacked by Japan. Japan target Pearl Harbor which was full with US vessles. The Japaneese palnned their attack to come in three waves. However only the first two were carried out. The two waves came in three groups each.
The first wave of attack began at 7:48 A.M. Hawaiian time. The first group was to target battleships and aircraft carriers. The group was made up of 50 Nakajima B5Ns (torpedo bommers) armed with 1760 lb armor piercing bombs, and 40 B5Ns armed with Type 91 torpedoes.
The second group was to target Ford Island and Wheeler Field. The group consisted of 55 Aichi D3As (dive bommers) armed with 550 lb general purpose bombs.
The third group targeted aircraft at Ford Island, Hickam Field, Wheeler Field, Barber’s Point, and Kaneohe. 45 A6Ms carried out this part of the attack.
The first wave of the attack destroyed aircraft and battleships. But there was more to come.
The second attack begain and 90 minutes later it had finnished. The first group was to target aircrafts and hangers on Kaneohe, Ford Island, Barbers Point and Hickam Field. They were to use B5Ns which were carryigeneral purpose bombs.
The second and third groups also targeted aircrafts and hangers. However the second group used D3A
The attack destroyed two battleships destroyed 188 air craft. Over 2388 people died that day and 1178 more were wounded. Japanese losses were minimal, at 29 aircraft and five midget submarines, with 65 servicemen killed or wounded.
After the Attack
The USS Arizona Memorial marks the resting place of all the sailors who drowned on December 7, 1941. The memorial was opened in 1980. It spans the USS Arizona's sunken hull, the memorial does not touch the ship. There are three sections of the memorial. These are the entry, assembly room, and shrine. One of the two 19,585 pound anchors of the Arizona is displayed at the entrance of the visitor center.
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